MDS World Awareness Day – 25th of October 2015

2015 MDS World Awareness Day: Video Stories

25/10/2015Some of our true champions for MDS awareness have shared their stories with us. Watch their video clips and share them in support of MDS World Awareness Day 2015!

Emma Paine: What happens when you need a second transplant?

Emma is an MDS patient. She had a first stem cell transplant in 2011 – and recovered well. Until now.

She is currently in hospital having chemotherapy and urgently needs a second transplant.
BUT – funding for second transplants is being revised in the UK – due to “cost-effectiveness” issues.
18 months ago, Emma would have received her potentially life-saving transplant without a problem.
Given the current NHS financial crisis, and new clinical data on the success of 2nd transplants after a relapse, the Dept of Health has tightened the rules relating to this procedure – and hospitals all over the UK need to seek special funding requests for those patients (IFR=Individual Funding Requests)

Olivia, Tilly and Ellis Hepburn make an appeal

Olivia, Tilly and Ellis, MDS super heroes and children of Lisa and Gavin Hepburn, are making an appeal for people to donate blood and stem cells to save lives of people like their Dad, who has MDS.

Lisa told us: “Today is MDS Awareness Day. Three years ago we hadn’t even heard of this disease. That’s why today is so important to make people aware. We are so grateful to the person that gave Gavin his donated bone marrow, and to the endless people that donate blood. To everyone that has helped, supported and been a shoulder to cry on these past years we are so grateful to you too…”

Their wonderful clip has already been viewed over 12,000 times on Facebook. Please keep sharing it! Thank you – on behalf of the entire MDS community.

Today is MDS Awareness Day. Three years ago we hadn’t even heard of this disease. That’s why today is so important to make people aware . We are so grateful to the person that gave Gavin his donated Bone Marrow, and to the endless people that donate blood. To everyone that has helped, supported and been a shoulder to cry on these past years we are so grateful to you too …

5 ways you can help to raise awareness about MDS

We are asking all patients, families, clinical staff, supporters to post photos or short video clips of themselves on all social media platforms, to raise awareness of this rare blood cancer MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME.

All our colleagues and friends worldwide will be doing the same and will post messages online on the 25th October. See our Facebook page for more clips, and photos and the MDS Alliance website for links to all international groups marking MDS Day.

1. Record and share a video clip. You can use the message below as an example:

Hello – my name is ……. I am an MDS patient. (or I am an MDS Supporter – son/daughter/spouse/brother/sister/parent/friend/colleague/neighbour of an MDS patient). Please share my message in support of the rare blood cancer MyeloDysplastic Syndromes – and the MDS World Awareness Day on 25th October. Please support the MDS UK Patient Support Group and the international MDS Alliance. Help to register more stem cell donors and blood donors. Be a star. Thank you.

2. Share these messages of MDS patients and supporters with your family and friends

It’s #MDSWorldAwarenessDay tomorrow. Please click on my video to see how you can help! #MDSUKPatientSupportGroup